These new changes are a mix of front-end and back-end changes - i.e. some will be visible to all site users, while others will be noticeable only to website editors – and we hope they are positively embraced by our community of grassroots sport users.
Here is a quick summary of the main changes:
1. Domain Name Management
Website editors now have the ability to assign a sportingpulse.net domain to their site automatically – for example, yourclubname.sportingpulse.net.
When compared to the long and complex SportingPulse URL’s you often find in your browser when navigating your website, this shorter web address (URL) can greatly assist in the promotion of your website to your members and supporters.
2. Improved Media Library Functionality
We’ve responded to your feedback about the Media Library, and in particular the ability to sort your albums, and we’re pleased to announce this is now a reality!
You can now sort your albums by simply dragging and dropping them using the arrow-heads, and we’ve also added a ‘Public’ checkbox on the main Media Library page which enables editors to quickly select which albums they want (and don’t want) appearing on the Photo Gallery page on their site.
3. Major Sponsor Widget
When we launched the new phase of our SportingPulse Network sites, we had some good feedback about the ‘loss’ of the left hand column, that in many cases was being used to show league and club sponsors.
As such, today we’ve launched a ‘Major Sponsor’ widget that has been created to give clubs, leagues and associations the ability to feature major sponsors in an extremely prominent piece of real estate on their site – at the very top of the right-hand column, above the Island advertisement.
This new widget can contain multiple sponsors - each with sponsor name, logo and description - and will rotate from one to the next on the site.
To activate, simply add a ‘Major Sponsor Widget’ from the Widget Manager, edit the details and then drag and move the widget to the top of your Widgets within the Widget Manager list.
4. Photo Gallery Widget
At SportingPulse we’re all about giving your site more features while making you work even less – and that’s what the Photo Gallery widget is all about!
This widget has two configuration options - you can have it either with or without a larger image feature – and will simply display a collection of the most recent photographs you’ve uploaded to your Media Library.
5. Social Media Widget
Our new Social Media widget will (at this stage) allow you to add a link to your Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as displaying your latest Twitter news feed. In future we hope to extend this widget to provide even more social media links.
Don't be scared to give it a crack - especially if you're an organisation that has a lot of good news, events and stats as the basis of your communication - e.g. a sports club!
We welcome and encourage any comments or feedback about these new features, and we hope website editors and users make the most of them.
I have a couple of questions/issues with the new changes.
ReplyDelete1. The images in the new major sponsor widget are too small. Why can't the existing scrolling sponsor information widget be placed at the top of the right column?
2. Would there be any advantage in changing the existing domain name of kalkee.vcfl.com.au to the new option of, for example, kalkee.sportingpulse.net ?
Hi Heath - thanks for the feedback.
ReplyDelete1/ The addition of the major sponsor widget has been to ensure that leagues and clubs can show their sponsors in one of the most visible places on the site. We have to show the 'med rec' ad above the fold, as advertising dollars are what keeps your software free (and that of your governing body). So, we've pushed that ad down, whilst doing the right thing by commercial partners who are funding grassroots sport.
2/ No, if you have a current domain through the VCFL, there's no real advantage to having another domain to be honest. The domain service was set up for leagues and club with no current domain - way to easily tell their members how to navigate to their site quickly.
Cheers, Andrew
I think what Heath is alluding to is that in the Major Sponsor widget, the actual size of the image is small (and it is not showing the full image). This is in contrast with the normal sponsor widget which shows the full image.
ReplyDeleteI also note that when the Photo Gallery widget is activated, the number of images that is shown throws the page out of whack. It causes the whole of the right column down to the bottom of the page to allow for the extra width.
I am loving the changes thou. Keep up the great work!
Yes - you can still have the 'original' larger sponsor rotation in the normal place on your site - so, we haven't replaced that.
ReplyDeleteBased on feedback, we wanted to provide an additional place to drive engagement with local sport sponsors, without moving the existing ad below the website page fold. The widget provides a place for a logo, linked name and a bit of info.
We've had a look at the photo gall widget in many different browsers. We'll continue to monitor and fix any problems here.
Thanks for the comment, Andrew
THe major sponsor widget is a good idea, however it needs to display the WHOLE image not the thumbnail. Tried it and can't use it until the sponsors logo is displayed in full, it doesn't repect the sponsor otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAndrew,
ReplyDeleteThankyou for the reply. Anonymous is correct in saying that the new Major Sponsor widget does not show the full image. I tried our current images and both ends of the images get cut out significantly. It will be extremely difficult to optimize our sponsor images down from a rectangular business card size image to a square just a few cm wide.
Heath
Love the link to the facebook page.
ReplyDeleteAny way we can get a way to get visitors to 'Like' our facebook pages from the website as opposed to a simple link?
Have been waiting for the new domain service, unfortunately, it is only a simple redirect to the page. I will be paying for a domain name for search engine ranking reasons.
Any chance of having SEO friendly URL's being worked on? Something similar to wordpress would be great.
For example, the current "About Us" URL ends with: 'assoc_page.cgi?c=1-7822-0-0-0&sID=178274'
end it with '/associationclubname/aboutus'
Just a thought.
I think its great you guys are continually improving your product, and making it easier for clubs and associations to have a web presence.
G'day Jonathon,
ReplyDeleteQuick responses
1/ The hard thing about the 'like' is the question of where it directs. We don't know which clubs have Facebook pages, etc - so its not something we can integrate across the network at this stage.
2/ Yes, the domain service was aimed at those who don't want to pay for their own URL. It was a simple way for any club to promote themselves, as opposed to being an SEO play. We are looking into 'real' URL's in terms of future development.
Thanks for the feedback - all logical suggestions, so thanks for taking the time to write.
Hi Rick - we will fix the thumbnail so it displays the wholse image.
ReplyDeleteThis will rely on the thumbnail image being cropped in the media gallery editor.
Cheers, Andrew
New to all this, sorry.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me why on my "Customise website" there is no option for headers...just colours & fonts and Other, which only gives me an option for adding a tagline.
Hi Andrew, this fix you are suggesting, has that in place or are you still working on it?
ReplyDeleteHi again Andrew, in the Site Administration Control Panel there is a small scroll bar across the top, what's the chances of being able to get that for our home page?
ReplyDeleteRegards Alan.
G'day - this fix has been scheduled, but is not yet complete. Will be in the next week I would expect.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Hi Andrew
ReplyDeleteI don't hink the editor will crop images all that well if they are rectangular, as most of our sponsors are. Its OKif they are square or close to square, but it wont allow adjustment to say resize an image. Nice idea, just don't think it will work for us unless you can display the original image.
Hi Andrew - Just wondering, is it possible to see who 'liked' a particular item as well as the number who 'liked' an item to Facebook?
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI dont know if anyone has touched on it, but when you crop an image in the media gallery editor, the cropping generally doesn't allow for the full image to be cropped. Is there a reason for this or will it be fixed in due course.
The social media links are great ideas, it will help link everyone together.
ReplyDeleteI have found a way to crop an image so it fits in the sponsors widget correctly. Open the image with Paint, drag on the corner of the image so it is a small logo in a large white box then save a copy. When you upload this to the image gallery you can then crop just the logo for the widget.
ReplyDeleteIt a temporay fix I know, but works ok until it is fixed permanantly.
I also think that social media links are a great idea, that's cool!
ReplyDelete